Local "girl" makes good with reality TV show

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — “ At the end of the day, I'm just a girl from Maine,” said 39-year-old Rebecca Taylor Henning.

Although her roots are here, Henning now travels the world while co-creating a reality television series with her husband, Doug Henning.

The show, Below Deck, is currently aired on the Bravo network Monday nights at 10 p.m.

Henning and her husband have worked on a number of television shows including America's Next Top Model, The Bachelor and Road Rules Real World Challenge, where the couple met 12 years ago.

After years of working in the television business, they decided to pitch an idea for a new show to development executives, who then pitched it to Bravo — which picked it up almost immediately.

“We are 'below the line' kids in the industry, for something to happen like this on our first attempt is almost unheard of,”Henning said.

The series follows a group of crew members who live and work aboard “Honor,” a 164-foot megayacht. The world of a young and single crew, becomes exposed as surveillance catches the lives, love interests and work ethics while on-board a luxurious, privately-owned yacht as it charters wealthy guests for $250,000 a week.

Henning and the production team — now known as Henhouse Entertainment — filmed the show's first season for six weeks for in Saint Martin in the spring of 2012.

Episode one debuted on July 1 of this year, and by the fourth aired episode, Henning said the ratings have skyrocketed.

The show has 10 episodes for now, but Henning said she is crossing her fingers for another season.

“I wouldn't trade this crazy, but exciting life for the world,” Henning said.

Henning travels with her two young children, Harbor 1, Finley, 4, her husband and her onset photographer, Ali Goodwin, who happens to be her childhood best friend, by her side.

“When the show was finally becoming a reality, I pulled all my resources,” Henning said. “My husband is the camera operator, I am the director, Ali is the photographer, and my brother Mark Taylor is the media manager. In the end, you go to who you trust.”

Henning said she tries to live on both the East and West coasts, as she owns a house in South Berwick and in California, but she takes things “show by show and day by day.”

“People may say I am pursuing my wildest dreams, and in an extent I am,” Henning said. “However, having a family that is both happy and healthy is what I consider to be most grateful for.”